Australia : The Dairy Country. 13 



the economic handling of dairy products, and much benefit has 

 resulted, the advances having generally been promptly repaid. 



For the maintenance of the purity and quality of Australian 

 butter and other dairy produce, the Commerce Act passed by the 

 Commonwealth Government requires that each of these articles 

 shall conform to certain standards. Butter intended for shipment 

 oversea must be covered with a true trade description, and that the 

 following information should appear on each box : The word " Aus- 

 tralia," the name of the State in which it was produced, net weight,, 

 manufacturer's or exporter's name or registered brand, and the 

 words " pure creamery butter," " pastry butter," " milled butter"" 

 (that is, butter which is a mixture or blend of two or more butters 

 ordinarily packed alone and under separate names or brands), or 

 " repacked butter," as the case may require. Other matters may be 

 added, but must be true, and not liable to mislead. Margarine must 

 be so stamped or marked. All butter and other dairy products 

 intended for export must be sent for inspection to appointed places. 

 The inspecting officer issues a certificate on the authorised form that 

 it is up to the standard. 



The regulations now in force contain important provisions in* 

 regard to the standard for export dairy products. By means of 

 these provisions purity and quality are guaranteed. Trade is also- 

 facilitated, since quantities of butter are purchased solely on* 

 the certificate issued, without inspection. The standard for butter,, 

 the most important dairy article, is as follows : Butter which con- 



Lucerne Hay. 



tains only No fat other than butter fat, not more than 16 per cent. 

 of water, 3 per cent, of casein, 0.5 per cent, of boric acid, 4 per cent. 

 of salt, or less than 82 per cent, of butter fat ; or any colouring matter- 

 deemed by the Minister for Trade and Customs to be harmless. 



